serendipity ≫ mario götze

002

        A little unsure, I end up a park where I place myself on a wooden bench. I set my bag next to me, open it up and get my drawing tools out. It is a nice day, the sun shines and according to the weather forecast it's not going to rain today. It's a Tuesday, so there aren't a lot of children outside, or people generally. Most of them actually have decent jobs apart from me. I mean, I have worked for the past few years. I am 19 now. I graduated last year. Then I worked for a couple of months, as I couldn't afford to move to Germany just yet. Working does look great on your resume, let's be honest about that. But I decided to take things slow here. I first need to master the language and make some friends. And apparently the best way to make friends, is to ride the bus.

        I start to make sketches of a couple in the distance, sitting against a tree, stealing kisses. It all comes naturally to me. The way the pencil flows over the paper, the way the lines join together and form shapes that end up to be a piece of artwork. Fascinating, isn't it? I have always thought drawing to be an interesting form of art. I mean, I have been to tons of museums and I have seen millions of paintings, sculptures and other things, that I am certain that I can distinguish what is considered art and what is not. Yet, I'm not so sure about myself when it comes to other things.

        A few minutes later, the couple departs and they leave me with an unfinished drawing. I will have to use my imagination for this one. Later. When I'm back in that tiny apartment of mine. Munich is a nice city. It's big, there is tons to do for every age and I must say that I like the weather better than I did back in Maine. The air smells better, a little more fresh. And it surprises me that I have only seen one McDonalds on the way here. I laugh to myself and look around me. It's still empty and dark clouds are starting to come closer. Would the weather forecast be wrong about the rain? The sun is still shining and it is a reasonable temperature for this time of the year.

        I sit there on the wooden bench in the park for another half an hour. I had already packed my bags and braided my hair twice out of boredom. A few people passed me, mumbled something in their strange language and walked away when I did not answer. It was time for me to move along. I stand up, wipe the dirt of my trousers and notice the bench had left some traces on my fair jeans. I groan, annoyed. I do not feel about going home first and then texted Matthias about that promised dinner. Besides, it was not a date, so would I need to dress perfectly? I tie my hair up in a ponytail this time and continue walking and stop at a place where I had eaten in the first week of arriving in Bavaria. I lean against the wall and take out my phone and the crumpled piece of paper from my pocket. It's easy to fill in the numbers, but it's hard to make sure that it is correct, as I don't quite know what the German phone numbers look like and how many numbers they have. I settle on a quick message letting him know where I am and and I go inside and order myself a cup of coffee.

        It doesn't take long for a message to come back. Matthias apparently just wanted to send me a text, but I don't believe him. He tells me he will be there in about ten minutes, as he still has to shower and all. Meanwhile I just sip on my coffee and listen to the music that is playing on the background of the cafe.

        “Lillian, hey, I'm sorry it took longer than anticipated,” I hear as I focus my thoughts away from the menu that was on the table.

        “Don't worry, really. Take a seat,” I say and gesture to the chair opposite of me. He gets rid of his coat and sits down and smiles. His curly, brown hair still wet from the shower, at least that's what I think.

        “Did you survive your time with the natives without me?” he says grinning.

        “Well I'm sitting here now, don't I?” I say and I scan the menu again, not sure what all of it is. I feel Matthias staring at me and I look up and raise my eyebrows.